# PHQ-9 Depression Screening > Validated 9-question depression screening questionnaire with severity scoring and interpretation **Category:** Utility **Keywords:** calculator, tool **URL:** https://complete.tools/phq-9-depression-screening ## How to interpret your score PHQ-9 scores are grouped into five severity ranges: **0 to 4 — Minimal or None** Symptoms are minimal or absent. No treatment is likely needed, though monitoring is always appropriate if you have concerns. **5 to 9 — Mild Depression** Mild depressive symptoms are present. Watchful waiting, lifestyle adjustments, and support from friends or family may be sufficient. Consider following up with a healthcare provider if symptoms persist or worsen. **10 to 14 — Moderate Depression** Moderate symptoms that are likely affecting daily functioning. A conversation with a healthcare provider is recommended. Treatment options such as talk therapy or medication may be appropriate. **15 to 19 — Moderately Severe Depression** Symptoms are more persistent and impairing. Active treatment — typically a combination of psychotherapy and/or medication — is generally recommended at this level. **20 to 27 — Severe Depression** Severe symptoms that significantly impair day-to-day functioning. Prompt evaluation and treatment by a healthcare professional is strongly recommended. If you are experiencing thoughts of self-harm, please reach out to a crisis line or emergency services immediately. A score of 10 or above is generally considered a clinically significant threshold for depression, though trained clinicians consider the full clinical picture alongside the score. ## Who should use this tool - **Adults seeking self-awareness**: If you have been feeling low, unmotivated, or unlike yourself, this questionnaire can help you put a number to your experience and understand where you might fall on a clinical scale. - **People preparing for a doctor's visit**: Completing the PHQ-9 before an appointment gives your provider a structured starting point and can help you articulate how you have been feeling. - **Caregivers and supporters**: Friends and family members supporting a loved one can use this tool to better understand depression severity. - **Students and researchers**: The PHQ-9 is frequently used in academic and clinical research contexts. This tool provides a quick reference implementation. - **Healthcare providers**: This tool provides a convenient digital version of the standard PHQ-9 for use in informal or educational settings. The PHQ-9 is validated for adults (18 and older). A modified version called the PHQ-A exists for adolescents. If you are completing this for a young person, please consult a healthcare provider. ## How to use this tool 1. Read each of the nine questions carefully. Each one asks about a symptom you may have experienced over the last two weeks. 2. For each question, select the response that best describes how often you have been bothered by that symptom: "Not at all," "Several days," "More than half the days," or "Nearly every day." 3. Answer all nine questions. The "Calculate Score" button will become active once all questions are answered. 4. Optionally, answer question 10 about how difficult these problems have made it to function at work, home, or in relationships. 5. Click "Calculate Score" to see your total score, severity level, and a plain-language interpretation with recommended next steps. 6. Review the score breakdown to see which specific symptoms contributed most to your score. 7. Share your score with a healthcare provider if you are seeking support. You can take a screenshot or note your total score. ## Limitations of the PHQ-9 While the PHQ-9 is clinically validated and widely trusted, it has important limitations to understand: - **Not a diagnosis**: A high PHQ-9 score does not mean you have major depressive disorder. Only a qualified clinician can make that determination after a full evaluation. - **Self-report bias**: Results depend on honest, accurate self-reporting. People may over- or underestimate their symptoms. - **Point-in-time snapshot**: The questionnaire reflects only the past two weeks. It does not capture the full trajectory of your mental health history. - **Does not distinguish subtypes**: The PHQ-9 does not differentiate between unipolar depression, bipolar disorder, dysthymia, or other mood disorders. - **Cultural and language factors**: The PHQ-9 has been translated and validated in many languages, but cultural factors can influence how symptoms are expressed and reported. - **Not a substitute for emergency care**: If you are in crisis or having thoughts of self-harm, please contact a mental health crisis line or emergency services. This tool is not designed for crisis assessment. ## FAQs **Q:** Is this tool a diagnosis? **A:** No. The PHQ-9 is a screening tool designed to identify possible symptoms of depression and their severity. It does not replace a clinical evaluation by a licensed healthcare provider. Think of it as a structured starting point for a conversation with your doctor or therapist. **Q:** How accurate is the PHQ-9? **A:** The PHQ-9 has strong psychometric properties. Studies show it has a sensitivity of about 88% and specificity of about 88% for detecting major depressive disorder at a threshold of 10 or above. However, accuracy depends on honest self-reporting and should always be interpreted in clinical context. **Q:** Is my data saved or sent anywhere? **A:** No. All calculations happen entirely in your browser. Your answers and score are never transmitted to any server or stored anywhere outside your device. **Q:** How often should I retake the PHQ-9? **A:** The PHQ-9 is commonly used at regular intervals — typically every 2 to 4 weeks — to track changes in symptom severity over time. If you are in treatment, your healthcare provider may administer it at each appointment to monitor progress. **Q:** What should I do if I score in the severe range? **A:** Please reach out to a healthcare provider as soon as possible. If you are having thoughts of self-harm, contact a crisis line immediately. In the United States, you can call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline). In Canada, call 1-833-456-4566. In the UK, call 116 123 (Samaritans). **Q:** Can I use this tool for someone else? **A:** The PHQ-9 is designed to be completed by the person experiencing the symptoms, based on their own subjective experience. It is not validated as a proxy or observer-rated instrument for assessing another person's depression. **Q:** Why is question 9 about self-harm included? **A:** Question 9 asks about thoughts of being better off dead or of hurting yourself. This question is a critical clinical indicator. Even a score of "1" (several days) on this item warrants follow-up with a healthcare provider. Screening for suicidal ideation is a standard and important part of depression assessment. --- *Generated from [complete.tools/phq-9-depression-screening](https://complete.tools/phq-9-depression-screening)*